Restaurant Bridges, Amsterdam

Joris Bijdendijk

Promising young chef Joris Bijdendijk, 29, is well-acquainted with Slow Food and works closely with the association's youth network. He helped the network organize the Food Film Festival (Amsterdam, March 22-24, 2013) and is the executive chef at Bridges, located inside the hotel The Grand, over a century old and just a few steps from the city's historic center. Michelin-star-winning chef Ron Blaauw, who consulted on Bridges, recently handed control of the kitchen over to Joris, who has trained at St. John in London and around France, most recently at Jardin de Sens in Montpellier.

His cooking reflects his already-extensive experience, particularly the classic French approach, with a particular focus on contrasts between powerful flavors. Seafood is a specialty at Bridges, and Joris's fish dishes are spectacular for both the techniques used and the quality of the ingredients, many of which are sourced from the Wadden Sea Traditional Fishers Presidium. As well as eight different species of Presidium fish, Joris also uses Chaam chicken, another Slow Food Presidium.

All of the accompanying vegetables are seasonal and local. With great skill, Joris is bringing the values of the young Slow Food Youth Network activists into a famed luxury restaurant.